Page 158 - A Jacobite Exile

"It will be your duty," the minister said, "to have interviews with as many
of the foreign traders and Jews in Warsaw as you can, only going to those

to whom you have some sort of introduction from the persons you may first
meet, or who are, as far as you can learn from the report of others, ill

disposed towards the Saxon party. Here is a letter, stating to all whom it
may concern, that you are in the confidence of the King of Sweden, and are
authorized to represent him.

"In the first place, you can point out to those you see that, should the

present situation continue, it will bring grievous evils upon Poland.
Proclamations have already been spread broadcast over the country, saying
that the king has no quarrel with the people of Poland, but, as their

sovereign has, without the slightest provocation, embarked on a war, he
must fight against him and his Saxon troops, until they are driven from the

country. This you will repeat, and will urge that it will be infinitely better
that Poland herself should cast out the man who has embroiled her with
Sweden, than that the country should be the scene of a long and sanguinary

struggle, in which large districts will necessarily be laid waste, all trade be
arrested, and grievous suffering inflicted upon the people at large.

"You can say that King Charles has already received promises of support
from a large number of nobles, and is most desirous that the people of the

large towns, and especially of the capital, should use their influence in his
favour. That he has himself no ambition, and no end to serve save to obtain

peace and tranquillity for his country, and that it will be free for the people
of Poland to elect their own monarch, when once Augustus of Saxony has
disappeared from the scene.

"In this sealed packet you will find a list of influential citizens. It has been

furnished me by one well acquainted with the place. The Jews are to be
assured that, in case of a friendly monarch being placed on the throne,
Charles will make a treaty with him, insuring freedom of commerce to the

two countries, and will also use his friendly endeavours to obtain, from the
king and Diet, an enlargement of the privileges that the Jews enjoy. To the

foreign merchants you will hold the same language, somewhat altered, to
suit their condition and wants.